[Possibilities of surgical management of paraganglioma of the neck extending to the base of the skull].

Presented in the article is a rare clinical case report concerning successful treatment of a female patient with vaginal paraganglioma of the neck - a tumour extending from the level of the trunk of the common carotid artery in cranial direction to the base of the skull. Mentioned are difficulties of carrying out an operational intervention requiring the use of certain surgical techniques. The tumour was removed as a single block with the involvement into the process of the major vessels of the neck and nervous formations. The reconstructive operation performed was common carotid - internal carotid prosthetic repair with a 6.3-4.5 mm cone-shape prosthesis 'Gore-tex' on the right.

[Present-day approach to comprehensive ultrasonographic study of patients with pathological deformity of the internal carotid artery].

The authors report herein the findings of a comprehensive ultrasonographic study comprising a total of fifty-eight patients diagnosed with a pathological deformity of the internal carotid artery (PD ICA). A special emphasis was placed on investigating the structural and functional properties of the arterial wall, with the assessment of elastic properties of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the values of the flow-dependent dilation (FDD) of the brachial artery, also evaluating the anatomical shape of the pathological deformity concerned, analyzing the blood flow linear velocity all along the length of the ICA, with the calculation of the velocity gradient, accompanied and followed by studying spectral characteristics of the blood strec, n, also assessing the functional state of the arteries of the circle of Willis. The overwhelming majority of the examined patients appeared to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in the FDD index, distensibility coefficient and the compliance coefficient, accompanied and followed by an elevation of the rigidity index, as compared with the control group (p < 0.05). We determined certain correlation between the appearance of the signs of blood flow turbulence and the values of the velocity gradient depending on the shape of the deformity. To this was added the analysis of the state of the value of the cerebral circulatory reserve depending upon the clinical manifestations of the disease.

[Problems of diagnostics and treatment strategy in patients with Takayasu' arteries].

Current concepts of etiology and pathogenesis of nonspecific aortoarteritis (Takayasu's disease) are considered. A.V. Pokrovsky and his team gained the largest experience with diagnostics and treatment of patients suffering this disease. In this paper, the authors describe results of the treatment of more than 200 patients including 118 operated for isolated reconstruction of aortic arch branches (n = 43), restoration of blood flow only in thoracoabdominal aorta and its branches (n = 63), reconstruction of both brachiocephalic arteries and thoracoabdominal aorta (n = 12). The authors present their view of diagnostics and treatment strategy in patients with lesioned brachiocephalic arteries, abdominal and thoracoabdominal aorta. The necessity of following up patients in the postoperative period is emphasized.

[Main aspects of ultrasound studies of carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions in clinical practice].

The authors summarize results of the joint work of Departments of Vascular Surgery and Ultrasound Diagnosis, A.V. Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery. The main aspects of US study of patients with atherosclerotic carotid lesions are discussed necessary for comprehensive and high-quality examination taking into account severity of occlusion and anatomical features of carotid arteries. Structural characteristic of atherosclerotic plaques is presented based on the comparison of results of US and morphological studies. Analysis of plaque morphology and clinical features of the disease was used to develop classification distinguishing 6 main types of atherosclerotic plaques. Complicated diagnostic situations are considered that can be encountered during US diagnostics of atherosclerotic carotid lesions.

Structural-and-functional alterations in the arterial wall and clinical manifestations of nonspecific aortoarteritis.

The authors studied structural-and-functional properties of the arterial wall, also assessing elastic properties of the common femoral artery and the brachial artery flow-dependent dilatation (FDD) index in a total of thirty-six patients presenting with nonspecific aortoarteritis (NAA). The overwhelming majority of the patients, i. e., twenty-four (89%), showed a statistically significant decrease in the FDD as compared with the control-group patients (P<0.05). We revealed a statistically reliable (P=0.0005) inverse correlation between the level of systolic arterial pressure and an increase in the rigidity index of the common femoral artery wall. Also determined was a correlation of the femoral artery wall rigidity (systolic AP equalling 140 mm Hg and higher) and the brachial artery flow-dependent dilatation index (r=-0.61). All the patients suffering from non-specific aortoarteritis were diagnosed as having a decrease in the elasticity values, accompanied by an increase in systolic arterial pressure (r=0.36; P=0.07). Comparing the level of systolic arterial pressure with the values of the distensibility coefficient and compliance coefficient revealed a weak inverse correlation (r=-0.28 and 0.21, respectively). Evaluating the impact of duration of the disease on the distensibility coefficient, compliance coefficient and the rigidity index made it possible to detect a statistically significant (P=0.0039) direct correlation between the rigidity index and the duration of non-specific aortoarteritis. To a leaser degree, the duration of the inflammatory process influenced the distensibility coefficient and compliance coefficient (r=-0.28; r=-0.30, respectively; P=0.06).

[To centenary of Takayasu's presentation of nonspecific aortoarteritis case].

Literature review is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the first case presentation for nonspecific aortoarteritis. The review covers the history of the disease concept development, current knowledge on its etiology and pathogenesis, unresolved problems of management strategy for patients with this pathology.

[Rosuvastatin in prevention of cardiac complications following surgical treatment of patients with vascular pathology].

The article deals with the findings of studying the use of rosuvastatin in patients after endured reconstructive operations on the brachiocephalic arteries and aortofemoral segment in order to prevent cardiac atherothrombotic complications. A total of thirty patients were given "Crestors" at a daily dose of 10 mg for two weeks prior to surgery and for two weeks postoperatively and were found to have a significant decrease in the average levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins, which was accompanied and followed by certain improvement in the functional state of the vascular wall, with no cardiac complications being observed in either case.

[Intraoperative administration of low-molecular-weight heparins in reconstructive vascular operations].

The article deals with analysing the outcomes of administering low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) by the example of nadroparin ("Fraxiparin") during the intraoperative period in patients diagnosed with atherosclerotic lesions of femoropoplietal-crural segment of the lower-limb arteries as compared with non-fractionated heparin (NFH). Studied were the alterations in the parameters of the plasmatic and thrombocytic links of haemostasis on the background of administering various molecular-weight fractions of heparin. A conclusion was drawn on advantageous use of LMWH in the cohort of the patients involved. Also presented herein is an analysis of the literature data concerning appropriate usage of LMWH during the intraoperative period.

Carotid artery grafting for restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.

The paper analyzes outcomes of 12 internal carotid artery (ICA) graftings for repeat stenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in 11 patients. In 6 cases restenosis occurred after eversion CEA, in 5 - after conventional patch CEA, and in 1 case - after ICA patch angioplasty for post-CEA restenosis. Critical restenosis >75% in reconstruction area was an indication for surgical intervention. There was 1 case of graft thrombosis in early postoperative period with hemispherical stroke and lethal outcome. Eight patients were examined in late postoperative period. Mean follow-up was 34?+/-?8.44 months (from 16 to 48 months). No cerebrovascular disturbances in operated ICA feeding area were detected. In 6 patients graft patency was good, while 2 smoking patients with diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia demonstrated repeat restenosis of proximal anastomosis >70%.

Carotid artery dissection (literature review and a case report).

The paper presents a literature review on the internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection and an original case report. The dissected ICA segment was resected and grafted.

[Ultrasound-assisted puncture method of treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts]. / Punktsionnyi metod lecheniia ékhinokokkovykh kist pecheni pod kontrolem ul'trazvukovogo issledovaniia.

Results of treatment of 31 hepatic hydatid cysts in 28 patients were analyzed. The size of the s ranged from 3 to 25 cm. In 26 cases the cysts contained flive es, in 2 cases they were suppurated after US-assisted intraoperative puncture. Simple hydatid cysts (type I by M. Milcevic) were diagnosed in 24 patients (solitary--in 22, multiple--in 2), solitary cysts of type II--in 2 patients. In 23 cases aspiration-catheter treatment with complete removal of chitin membrane by one-stage (4) or two-stage (19) methods was performed. After removal of chitin membrane in 3 patients lateral fistula between spurious cysts cavities and peripheral branches of intrahepatic bile ducts were revealed which spontaneously. Glue composition "Rabrom" was used in 2 cases for closure of the residual cavity. In 4 patients who had cysts less 6 cm in size puncture irrigation of chitin cavity with 30% NaCl (PAIR technique) without it removal was performed. In one patient transcutaneous catheter (PAIR-PD technique) was used for irrigation of the cyst larger than 6 cm. The duration of two-stage aspiration-catheter treatment with removal of chitin membrane was 25.6 +/- 9.6 days. In moderate calcinosis of the fibrous membrane and bile fistulas period of hospitalization was 34 +/- 8.1 days. Treatment with PAIR and PAIR-PD took 1 and 3 days respectively. Complications of percutaneous methods were regarded as mild: hyperthermia (12), right-sided hydrothorax (6), subcapsular hematoma (1), urticaria (1). All the complications were treated conservatively and with US-assisted punctures. Long-term (from 6 months to 9 years) results of treatment were followed up in 26 patients: there were no recurrences. Suppuration of the residual cavity 6 months after the glue occlusion was eradicated by transcutaneous catheter drainage. One lethal outcome was not associated with complications of aspiration-catheter treatment. Both methods of transcutaneous treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts are effective and safe. A hypertonic solution of NaCl I produces a reliable antiscolecidal and sclerosis effect.

[Transcranial duplex scanning in estimation of cerebral hemodynamics in patients with secondary cochleovestibular neuritis]. / Transkranial'noe dupleksnoe skanirovanie v otsenke tserebra'noi gemodinamiki u bol'nykh s vtorichnym kokhleovestibuliarnym nevritom.

The authors present pilot experience with transcranial duplex scanning (TCDS) of the cerebral vessels in 17 patients with secondary cochleovestibular neuritis combined with chronic leptomeningitis (primarily of the posterior cranial fossa). This method has determined extra- and intracranial hemodynamics, characterized arterial and venous blood flow qualitatively and quantitatively, outlined possible genetically determined factors in development of dyscirculatory disorders. Finally, hemodynamic defects of two types were revealed in 12 patients. Type 1 (3 patients) was characterized by asymmetric circulation in the territory of the middle, anterior and posterior cerebral arteries, by the absence of venous congestion. Type 2 (9 patients) was characterized by impaired venous outflow manifesting as higher speed of the blood flow and its phase response along the intracranial veins and sinuses. In 7 patients these defects combined with asymmetric circulation along brain stem arteries. These patients were diagnosed to have perilymphatic labyrinthine hydrops.